New Fiat 124 Spider Unveiled!

Posted on: 20th Nov 2015

It’s back! A new Fiat 124 Spider was just unveiled at the 2015 LA Auto Show and it looks fantastic.

Taking design elements from the original 124 Spider which was introduced almost 50 years ago, the new model is expected to hit UK dealerships in the second half of 2016. The pricing will be competitive against the Mazda MX-5 at around £20,000 but will be confirmed at a later date.

Italian Design

The 124 Spider may share the same wheelbase as the Mazda MX-5 but it definitely holds the Italian twist. As opposed to the minimalistic view of the MX-5, Fiat has given their new roadster some style; sweeping lines are found all around the 124 Spider giving the car lots of character.

Big, bold headlights and a wide grille catch your eye at the front while the neat rear sports a twin exhaust system and rectangular light clusters similar to the ones found on the Fiat 500.

Premium Interior

The interior takes classic Italian design elements from the 1966 model and compresses them into a quality driver-focussed roadster. As the driver you will be seated in premium low-slung seats giving you an optimised driving position, perfectly aligned with the sporty steering wheel.

Sporty Engine

Under the bonnet lies a 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo engine which produces 140hp and 240Nm of torque will drive the rear wheels. Fiat has yet to confirm the performance figures but this package promises to match the 0-62 speed of the more powerful 2.0-litre MX-5 at 7.3 seconds.

Retractable Roof

Fiat has ditched the electric assist system seen on most convertibles and went with a spring-assisted soft-top roof instead. They have designed the driver’s seat so it is very ergonomic and will allow the driver to move their upper body freely making it easy to operate the roof from the seat.

When the header-rail lock levers are released the windows will automatically lower and will rise again once the levers are locked in position.

Equipment

Standard equipment in the 124 Spider consists of Bluetooth, USB connectivity and a six-speaker stereo while the enhanced version will contain a seven-inch touchscreen display, two USB ports, DAB digital radio, a reversing camera, multimedia control and a 3D navigation system.

There is a special Bose sound system option available which gives you nine speakers, including twin headrest speakers per seat and a subwoofer.

Driving assists offered as standard include stability control, traction control and rollover mitigation. Depending on grade the following features will either be standard or optional: adaptive headlamps, reversing camera, rain-sensitive wipers, keyless entry ‘n' go and voice-operated infotainment and navigations systems.

Keep your eyes peeled for more news regarding pricing and final specifications of the new Fiat 124 Spider at a later date. Until then, take a look at our current Fiat range at Richard Hardie Ashington or Silverlink dealerships.

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